UPDATED STORY - Mon, May 22nd, 2023
We’re learning more about alleged gambling establishments that were raided on Friday night in our immediate area. Newton County Constable Matt Wonders says evidentiary search warrants were executed at some 37 locations in eight counties across Deep East and Southeast Texas, stretching from Shelby County to Galveston County.
Here in Jasper County, Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Scotty Duncan says four raids occurred; three in Kirbyville and one on the Jasper County side of Brookeland.
In Sabine County, Sheriff Tom Maddox says three were raided there; one in Hemphill, and two on the Sabine County side of Brookeland.
KFDM 6 News is reporting that at least one was raided in Port Arthur.
Newton County Sheriff Robert Burby says there are no alleged gambling establishments in Newton County so no raids occurred there.
Meanwhile, we were unable to reach Tyler County Sheriff Bryan Weatherford or anyone in his department who could comment.
ORIGINAL STORY - Fri, May 19th, 2023
Newton County Constable Matt Wonders calls it "one of the largest gambling and money laundering investigations in east Texas history", and he says multiple raids across the region occurred on Friday evening.
According to Wonders, law enforcement officers on the local and state level executed 37 evidentiary search warrants at locations in eight counties, stretching from Shelby County to Galveston County.
Wonders says this followed a 15 month investigation which revealed that the owners of illegal gambling establishments were "laundering millions of dollars locally as well as internationally".
According to Wonders, no arrests have been made yet, but once they do he says the criminal charges will include Money Laundering, Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, Illegal Gambling, Keeping a Gambling Place, Promotion of Gambling, Possession of Gambling Devices, and numerous drug charges.